Published: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 5:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 5:03 p.m.

SARASOTA - Cooler temperatures could make their way to Southwest Florida and the rest of the state after an unseasonably warm start to the year, though forecasts suggest relatively warm weather will continue through the winter season.

Daytime temperatures in the Sarasota-Bradenton area have hovered in the 80s — reaching as high as 87 — in the last week thanks to an unusually high pressure system, a Bermuda high, over the Bahamas the last few weeks.

That system has kept out cold fronts from the north, allowing warm temperatures to build up across the state that have made for suitable beach conditions and an unusually scorching winter.

Three consecutive record daytime highs were set last week. Last Wednesday's 87 degree high tied the record high for the month.

Though temperatures the last few days have not broken any records, they have still been nearly 10 degrees above the normal 71 degrees for this time in January.

But beginning Thursday, temperatures are expected to be close to normal for this time of year as a cold front pushes through Southwest Florida. Highs through Tuesday are expected to be in the low 70s.

“There are signs that that high is going to weaken late this week and next week into February,” said Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.com. “We're going to see much greater chance of fronts getting into Florida.”

Overall though, the federal Climate Prediction Center's outlook for the next month projects that Florida — along with much of the rest of the country — will likely see above-normal temperatures.

It's unlikely at this point that Florida will experience any cold snaps, Anderson said, which could jeopardize crops or stave off some pests like fleas and mosquitoes.

“On some insects such as termites and ants and even some fleas, yes, there could be some activity,” said Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Anthony Pranschke. “But it's not going to be what it would be in summer months.”

Still, environmental managers say they don't expect the warm weather to usher in a harsher mosquito season because the higher temperatures did not come with more rain.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Cooler temperatures could make their way to Southwest Florida and the rest of the state after an unseasonably warm start to the year, though forecasts suggest relatively warm weather will continue through the winter season.</p><p>Daytime temperatures in the Sarasota-Bradenton area have hovered in the 80s — reaching as high as 87 — in the last week thanks to an unusually high pressure system, a Bermuda high, over the Bahamas the last few weeks.</p><p>That system has kept out cold fronts from the north, allowing warm temperatures to build up across the state that have made for suitable beach conditions and an unusually scorching winter.</p><p>Three consecutive record daytime highs were set last week. Last Wednesday's 87 degree high tied the record high for the month.</p><p>Though temperatures the last few days have not broken any records, they have still been nearly 10 degrees above the normal 71 degrees for this time in January.</p><p>But beginning Thursday, temperatures are expected to be close to normal for this time of year as a cold front pushes through Southwest Florida. Highs through Tuesday are expected to be in the low 70s.</p><p>“There are signs that that high is going to weaken late this week and next week into February,” said Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.com. “We're going to see much greater chance of fronts getting into Florida.”</p><p>Overall though, the federal Climate Prediction Center's outlook for the next month projects that Florida — along with much of the rest of the country — will likely see above-normal temperatures.</p><p>It's unlikely at this point that Florida will experience any cold snaps, Anderson said, which could jeopardize crops or stave off some pests like fleas and mosquitoes.</p><p>“On some insects such as termites and ants and even some fleas, yes, there could be some activity,” said Sarasota County Environmental Specialist Anthony Pranschke. “But it's not going to be what it would be in summer months.”</p><p>Still, environmental managers say they don't expect the warm weather to usher in a harsher mosquito season because the higher temperatures did not come with more rain.</p>